Library post structure



F. P. TUCKER 3,325,017

LIBRARY POST STRUCTURE June 13, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24,1965 20 4Z\FIG. 3. I0Y

INVENTOR F. PHILIP TUCKER y 2- fi M I ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1967 F. P. TUCKER LIBRARY POST STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 24, 1965FIG. 4.

2 SheetsSheet INVENTOR F. PHILIP TUCKER ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,325,017 LIBRARY POST STRUCTURE Frank PhilipTucker, Oceanport, NJ. Estey Corporation, 1 Catherine St, Red Bank NJ.07701) Filed 0st. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,912 14 Claims. (Cl. 211148) Thepresent invention is broadly concerned with an improved library poststructure, or shelf-supporting base assembly. The invention is moreparticularly concerned with a unique base supporting assembly havinghigh structural strength, and wihch may be readily and efficientlyassembled (and disassembled), positioned and leveled at the desiredlocation with a minimum use of fasteners, screws, bolts and the like.

The shelf assembly of the present invention comprises an interrelatedcombination of particular unique base elements used with a verticalcolumn, especially in combination with an alignment and stressdistribution pin. One of the features of this invention is the taperedpin which expands and grips the sections of the column, and acts as afulcrum for the scissor action.

This occurs by reason of the fact that when adjustment screws areraised, and the shelves are loaded, the base sections of the column areforced downwardly and act on the pin.

In the art it is well known to use various types of construction forshelving, particularly for library book stacks and open shelf filingequipment. An object of this invention is to design a post and shelfhaving ease of construction, strength, and ready accessibility. Anotherobject is to have the base assembly of a type and design which can bereadily dismantled and reassembled for movement to a new location, andto provide a scissor action into the pin Operating as a fulcrum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will appear from areading of the following specification and claims, the invention residesin the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details ofconstruction and process of manufacture hereinafter described andclaimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment ofthe invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. It will be furtherunderstood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many andvarious forms, some of which are illustrated in the laccompanyingdrawing and photographs, and that the structural details or particularsteps of the method here in set forth may be varied to suit particularpurposes and still remain within the inventive concept.

Referring to the figures:

FIGURE 1 shows in some detail the various elements of the assembly.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the assembly, while FIG- URE 3 is a bottomview of the assembly.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an end view of the assembly, while FIGURE 5 is aview 55 of FIGURE 4 looking upwardly.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 1, a first base element 14) is shownalong with a second base element 20. These base elements are designed tobe positioned along and on a supporting floor. In essence, these baseelements comprise metal channel structures preferably having a generallyflat upper surface and flat sides, and an inner and outer end. Theheight of the top surface of the base element may be somewhat greater atthe inner end than at the outer end. Leveling means, such as knobs oradjusting screws 21 and 11, are provided at or near the outer ends ofthe base elements 20 and so as to adjust the same with respect to floorirregularities.

A first vertical element 40 is intergrally extruded or "Ice rigidlyaffixed to base element 10, and extends vertically upward therefrom atits inner end. Element 40 is characterized by having a width aboutone-half the width of the top surface of the base element. Verticalelement 40 has a lip 41, extending longitudinally along its innersurface. Lip 41 is characterized by having a recessed area 42 in thelower end thereof.

Second base element 20 is characterized by having a second verticalelement 50 integral with or rigidly attached thereto, which extendsvertically therefrom at its inner end. Element 50 has a lip 51 whichextends from its inner surface and a recess 52.

In the assembly the respective elements are placed so that lip 41 willabut against lip 51. Pin alignment and stress distribution element 30 ispositioned in the area formed by the recess 42 in lip 41 and in recess52 in the lower end of lip 51.

A vertically extending column or tube 70 is positioned about theabutting vertical elements 40 and 50 in order to securely position andaflix the leg elements one to the other. This vertical column or tube 70may be of any length desired to support the necessary shelf brackets.Bracket elements and have latching means 81 and 91 at one end thereofwhich are adapted to seat in slots 71 of the columns or tube 70.Brackets =80 and 90 prefenably have upwardly extending retaining lips 82and 92 at their outer end thereof in order to provide support andsecurity for the shelves.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the assembly wherein similar parts aredesignated with the numbers of FIG- URE 1. First base element 10 andsecond base element 20 are shown positioned along the floor securelyattached one to the other by means of vertical column 70 shownpositioned about their vertical elements 40 and 50. Brackets 80 and 90are shown attached to vertical column 70 which brackets support shelvesand 100.

FIGURE 3 shows in some detail adjusting means such as knobs or adjustingscrews 11 and 21 positioned on the lower side of base elements 10 and20. Alignment or stress equalization pin 30 is shown positioned in thecircular area formed by recesses 42 and 52 in the lower area of lip-s 41and 51. This pin is preferably tapered and expands the base elements 10and 21, and further acts as a hinge point for the scissor-like action of10 and 20 when load is imposed on column 70. Alignment pin 30 is alsodesirable since it serves to increase ease of erection and distributesthe load stress between the first base element 10 and the second baseelement 20. It is also preferred that recesses 42 and 52 be tapered soas to secure a vertical cone cavity or recess. Thus, as pin 30 is seateda very tight fitting is secured between the respective elements which,if desired, may be readily disassembled.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of the assembly wherein a plurality ofbrackets are used in the upwardly extending locking-supporting column70. Brackets 80 and 90 support shelves 110 and 100, while brackets andsupport shelves and 150, respectively. The entire assembly is supportedby means of leveling screws 11 and 21.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view through 5-5 showing vertical elements 40and 50 and abutting lips 41 and 51. The respective vertical elements aresecurely locked in position by vertical extending supporting column 70.

It is to be understood that the structure usually comprises a pluralityof the supporting assembly units described. The units may be spaced atany desirable distance about as, for example, from about 3 to 10 to 15feet. While the respective dimensions may be varied greatly dependingupon environmental conditions and usage, one desirable assembly is tohave the respective base elements about 9 to 14 inches as, for example,about 11 /2 inches along the floor. The height of the inner end of thebase elements should be about 2 to 4 inches above the floor while theheight at the outer end should be about 1% to 2% inches above the floor.The width of these base elements may be from about 2 to 4 inches as, forexample, about 2 /2 inches.

As pointed out heretofore, it is preferred that the widths of thevertical elements which are extruded or rigidly aflixed to the baseelements be about one-half of the width of the base elements as, forexample, about 1% to 2 /2 inches wide. These vertical elementspreferably should extend about two inches beyond the ends of the baseelements proper. The dimensions of the column or pose 70 should be suchas to snugly fit about the respective elements extending vertically fromthe base elements. The heights of the vertical elements of bases 10 and20 may vary appreciably but it is preferred that the heights be about to12 inches as, for example, about 9 inches. The recesses provided in thebottom of the lip sections so as to receive the expanding and hinge pinelement, are preferably from about 1 to 3 inches in length preferablyabout 3 inches, and a diameter from about /s to inch, such as aboutinch.

The geometric configuration of the base elements and the verticalelements may be varied widely, and are designed to secure maximummechanical strength with minimum weight. The upright column or post ispreferably of a rectangular cross section having slots adapted toreceive shelf supporting brackets.

What is claimed is:

1. Shelf-supporting assembly which comprises in combination (l) a firstbase element adapted to be positioned along a supporting floor andhaving an inner end and an outer end, (2) a second base element adaptedto be positioned along said supporting floor and having an inner end andan outer end, (3) a first vertical element rigidly afiixed to said innerend of said first base element and extending vertically from said firstbase element, said first vertical element characterized by a width lessthan the width of said first base element, (4) a second vertical elementrigidly affixed to said inner end of said second base element andextending vertically from said second base element, said second verticalelement characterized by a width less than the width of said second baseelement, (5) a vertical supporting tube positioned about said first andsaid second vertical elements, and (6) brackets affixed to said verticaltube for supporting trays thereon, and wherein said first verticalelement and said second vertical element overlap within said verticalsupporting tube.

2. Assembly as defined by claim 1 wherein said vertical elements arecharacterized by having vertical lips extending therefrom, which lipsabut within said vertical supporting tube.

3. Assembly as defined by claim 2 wherein said lips are recessed nearthe bottoms thereof and wherein a (7) pin is positioned within saidrecess.

4. Assembly as defined by claim 3 wherein said recess is a vertical conecavity, and wherein said pin is of a cylindrical configuration.

5. Shelf-supporting assembly which comprises in combination, (1) a firstbase element adapted to be positioned along a supporting floor, (2) asecond base element adapted to be positioned along said supportingfloor, the longitudinal axes of said base elements lying in the samevertical plane, (3) a first vertical element rigidly afiixed to saidfirst base element and extending vertically therefrom and being to theright of said vertical plane, (4) a second vertical element rigidlyaffixed to said second base element and extending vertically therefromand being to the left of said vertical plane, (5) a vertical supportingtube, the lower end of which is positioned about said first and saidsecond vertical elements, and (6) brackets afiixed to said vertical tubefor supporting trays thereon.

6. Assembly as defined by claim 5 wherein said first vertical elementand said second vertical element overlap within said vertical supportingtube.

7. Assembly as defined by claim 6 wherein said vertical elements arecharacterized by having vertical lips extending therefrom, which lipsabut within said vertical supporting tube.

8. Assembly as defined by claim 6 wherein said lips are recessed nearthe bottoms thereof and wherein a (7) pin is positioned within saidrecess.

9. Assembly as defined by claim 6 wherein said recess is a vertical conecavity, and wherein said pin is of a cylindrical configuration.

10. Assembly as defined by claim 4 wherein the pin within said recess isabout 3 inches in length and about /4 inch in diameter.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pin snugly contactssaid vertical elements and expands them against the vertical tube andacts as a fulcrum for a scissor action between the two base elements.

12. A structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein said pin snugly contactssaid vertical elements and expands them against the vertical tube andacts as a fulcrum for a scissor action between the two base elements.

13. A library post structure comprising two base elements each havingnotched inner sections, integral up standing legs on each of said basesadjacent to said notched section, each of said legs fitting in thenotched section of the complementary base element, and a tube slidableover said legs holding the legs in registry.

14. A post structure as set forth in claim 11 where said legs areprovided with a tapered semicircular groove in the bottom thereof, and apin in said groove which acts as a fulcrum for the scissor action of thebase elements when loading pressure is placed thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,009,581 11/1961 Stewart287189.36 3,127,020 3/1964 Bibb 211148. 3,186,561 6/1965 Strassle287189.36 3,186,668 6/1965 Story 248158 3,206,150 9/1965 Lang et al248-l58 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

5. SHELF-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION, (1) A FIRSTBASE ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ALONG A SUPPORTING FLOOR, (2) ASECOND BASE ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ALONG SAID SUPPORTINGFLOOR, THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID BASE ELEMENTS LYING IN THE SAMEVERTICAL PLANE, (3) A FIRST VERTICAL ELEMENT RIDIGLY AFFIXED TO SAIDFIRST BASE ELEMENT AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY THEREFROM SAID BEING TO THERIGHT OF SAID VERTICAL PLANE, (4) A SECOND VERTICAL ELEMENT RIGIDLYAFFIXED TO SAID SECOND BASE ELEMENT AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY THEREFROMAND BEING TO THE LEFT OF SAID VERTICAL PLANE, (5) A VERTICAL SUPPORTINGTUBE, THE LOWER END OF WHICH IS POSITIONED ABOUT SAID FIRST AND SAIDSECOND VERTICAL ELEMENTS, AND (6) BRACKETS AFFIXED TO SAID VERTICAL TUBEFOR SUPPORTING TRAYS THEREON.